Slick roads, accidents wreak havoc

Major highways in the Kansas City metro area were besieged by a Valentine's Day snowstorm.

As of 6:30 p.m. Sunday, westbound Interstate 70/Kansas Turnpike at the Kansas Highway 7 interchange was reopened to traffic after a 30-vehicle accident about 1:30 p.m. closed the interchange.

Kimberly Qualls, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Transportation, said eastbound I-70/Kansas Turnpike had been reduced to one lane with stop-and-go traffic for vehicle removal. Vehicle accidents occurred on both eastbound and westbound I-70 at or near the K-7 interchange, she said.

Drivers were alerted to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Meanwhile, Qualls said that as of 4:45 p.m. Sunday, northbound Interstate 35 at the 87th Street interchange had been reopened to traffic. Northbound I-35 was closed completely earlier Sunday afternoon due to a multiple vehicle accident.